On December 19, 2023, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw provided an update on reported hate crimes in Toronto. Here is Toronto Police’s press release:
On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, Chief Myron Demkiw provided an update to the Toronto Police Services Board on reported hate crimes in Toronto.
The Chief’s remarks to the Board will be available here. The news release issued in November about hate crimes reported to the Service is available here.
Between January 1 and December 17, 2023, there have been 338 reported hate crimes, an increase of 41 per cent compared to the same period in 2022 (when 239 were reported). This includes 147 anti-Semitic hate crimes reported (versus 81 reported during the same period in 2022) and 37 anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab hate crimes reported (versus 14 reported during the same period in 2022).
Between October 7 and December 17, 2023, there have been 98 hate crime occurrences reported in Toronto, compared to 48 in 2022 during the same time period. This includes 56 anti-Semitic hate crimes reported (versus 18 during the same period last year), 20 anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab hate crimes reported (versus 2 during the same period last year). There has also been 11 reported hate crimes targeting the LGBTQ2S+ communities during this period, versus eight during the same period last year.
Among all of the hate crimes reported between October 7 and December 17, 2023, 53 per cent have been anti-Semitic.
Since October 7, 2023, the Hate Crime Unit has made 43 arrests and laid 96 charges related to hate crime occurrences. Of the 96 charges laid, 29 per cent have been Mischief related (28 cases) and 17 per cent have been Assault related (16 cases).
On November 8, 2023, the Service launched its hate-motivated graffiti intake form on TPS.ca. The form is a new online tool that provides the community with an alternative method to report hate-motivated graffiti. Since the launch, the Service has received 129 web submissions; of those, eight were confirmed hate crimes. Including the intake form, there have been 159 hate crime graffiti occurrences reported to the Service between October 7 and December 17, 2023, including 27 anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab occurrences (versus one in 2022) and 111 anti-Semitic occurrences (versus 12 in 2022).
“We are steadfast in our resolve to ensure that Palestinian, Muslim, Jewish, all communities for that matter, are kept safe from acts of hatred and violence,” said Chief Demkiw. “While the Jewish, Palestinian and Muslim communities have demonstrated tremendous resiliency during these incredibly challenging times, as a police service we continue to be resolute; committed to ensuring public safety and security, while also ensuring that the constitutional right to free speech is maintained. This is a delicate balancing.”
The Chief continued, “we will be relentless, indeed resolute, in our pursuit of those who perpetrate crimes against any group or community. Hatred will have no space in our city.”
Hate Crime Occurrence Numbers
Jan. 1, 2023 – Dec. 17, 2023 (compared to same period in 2022 and 2021)
Total Hate Crimes
2021: 286
2022: 239
2023: 338
Anti-Semitic Occurrences
2021: 82
2022: 81
2023: 147
Anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab Occurrences
2021: 21
2022: 14
2023: 37
Oct. 7, 2023 – Dec. 17, 2023 (compared to the same period in 2022 and 2021)
Total Hate Crimes
2021: 45
2022: 48
2023: 98
Anti-Semitic Occurrences
2021: 16
2022: 18
2023: 56
Anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab Occurrences
2021: 2
2022: 2
2023: 20